Neighborly Notes

Neighborly Notes

April 11, 1990

SOVIET VISITORS WELCOMED TO AREA BY BUSINESSES

During the past month, the Williamsburg Unitarian Fellowship hosted eight Soviet visitors sponsored by American-Soviet Homestays, and this family-to-family exchange effort would have been far less enlightening an experience without the support and generosity of several area merchants and organizations.

I would like to extend our thanks to Nancy Kilgore of Outlets Ltd. Mall for coordinating a shopping trip for our guests, and a special thanks to Specials by Levi at the Outlets Mall for giving each of our visitors a free pair of Levis. Tina Jeffrey of the Williamsburg Pottery Factory also arranged for a complimentary gift and luncheon for our visitors during their trip to the Pottery. Jim and Ann Wesson, proprietors of Beethoven's Inn, also served our guests and their hosts a typically excellent meal and provided our visitors a wonderful example of the hospitality extended by these area establishments.

In addition, our appreciation to the Williamsburg Community Hospital for the extended tour and visit with one of our visitors who, as a physician, was very pleased to witness the fine medical services available in our area. And, just as important on our list, we were most appreciative of the extended tour, refreshments, and lengthy discussion which the Daily Press & Times Herald provided for our Soviet guests. Ernie Gates and his staff gave our visitors a memorable insight into the operation and editorial decision-making which is so critical to the free press in the United States.

To the host families and volunteer hosts we extend the greatest appreciation, for you helped our visitors experience the gracious and generous hospitality for which the Peninsula, and especially Williamsburg, is consistently recognized. Without the assistance of these merchants, organizations, and individuals, our Soviet friends would not have learned in a personal way the genuine openess of our society and its people. Again, our thanks to all.

Rick Richardson

Williamsburg

PREVENT A LITTER DURING MONTH OF APRIL

The Williamsburg Area SPCA joins forces with the Humane Society of the United States in April, which has been designated National Prevent a Litter month by the Congress of the United States.

Now in its third year, the Prevent a Litter campaign is designed to draw attention to the problem of pet overpopulation and to gather momentum to find solutions.

Dr. Ellen Rudolph, Executive Director of the Williamsburg Area SPCA says that "pet overpopulation is a national tragedy, and one that can only be solved through individual commitment and responsibility. We have to make pet owners understand that they contribute directly to the problem if they let their pets have even one litter. There simply aren't enough homes for all the dogs and cats that are born every hour of every day."

Rudolph adds, "We can all help to prevent this tragedy by having our pets spayed and neutered, today." Area veterinary clinics offer a 25 percent discount to adoptees of SPCA animals when they bring them in for neuter-spay surgery within a designated time period after adoption.